Assemblyman Ben Hueso was named one of the Humane Society’s legislators of the year.
Hayne Palmour IV • U-T

The Humane Society of the U.S. has selected San Diego Assemblyman Ben Hueso as one of its legislators of the year, principally because of his campaign to change the California Fish and Game Commission after its president provoked a fierce backlash for legally killing a mountain lion in Idaho.

“Ben Hueso has great compassion and integrity, and stands against animal cruelty every single time, no matter how strong the opposition,” said San Diego radio host Jerry Cesak, a member of the Humane Society board of directors.

Cesak will present Hueso with the award live on his show, carried on KYXY 96.5 FM, on Feb. 1.

Hueso, a Democrat, said he was infuriated last year when he saw a published photograph of a beaming Dan Richards posing with his trophy kill. Hunting mountain lions is banned in California.

In response, Hueso authored a letter to the governor signed by more than three dozen lawmakers demanding that Richards be ousted. It was later withdrawn.

He also introduced legislation, which became law, to alter how the Fish and Game Commission president is selected, noting that Richards secured the seat without a majority vote. A second bill signed into law moved to ensure that “commissioners act legally, consistently and in the public’s best interest.”

Hueso’s actions drew strong criticism from hunting-rights advocates and defenders of Richards, who contended it was a “witch hunt.” Richards did nothing illegal and had always worked in the best interest of wildlife as well as hunters, his supporters said.

Told of the award, Bob Smith, president of the San Diego County Wildlife Federation, said: “I hope it wasn’t on the basis of the witch hunt against Mr. Richards. Mr. Richards didn’t do anything illegal. All he managed to do was raise the ire of the HSUS. It raised the issue and allowed them to get the ban on using dogs to hunt bears and bobcats.”

Richards remained unapologetic throughout the controversy. He responded to Hueso’s resignation demand by saying last year there was a “zero chance” that he would quit and said his decision to hunt legally is “none of your business.”

Richards beat back the legislative campaign to have him fired. But the Fish and Game board eventually removed him as president in August, and other administrative changes were put in place in response to pressure from Hueso and others. Richards’ term expires this month.

“I pushed forward with what we thought was good public policy. I am very proud of the work we did in that area,” Hueso said in an interview. He called the award an “unexpected recognition” and noted that it comes from “the leading supporter of humane policies for our pets and our animals in our community.”

Hueso is currently chairman of the Assembly Water, Parks and Wildlife Committee, but is favored to win a special election for a vacant San Diego-based state Senate seat this spring.

Hueso had a perfect voting record in favor of Humane Society positions in 2011 and 2012.

“Assembly member Hueso emerged during 2012 as one of the state’s most significant protectors of California’s wildlife,” said Jennifer Fearing, the Humane Society’s Sacramento lobbyist.

Two others state lawmakers have also been selected for the award. One of those is Sen. Ted Lieu, a Torrance Democrat who carried a new law banning the use of dogs to hunt bears and bobcats. Senate President Pro Tempore Darrell Steinberg, D-Sacramento, will also receive an award.